She was accused by the court of damaging the image of Bali and received the sentence despite prosecutors only asking for a 15-year prison term.

A court official confirmed his office had received the appeal request through the head of Kerobokan prison, where Sandiford is being held.

Earlier on Monday, it was announced that the British government is to be challenged over its failure to fund legal representation for Sandiford, who it is thought cannot afford legal representation for the appeal.

The law firm Leigh Day, which is working with the charity Reprieve, said it would cost around £2,500 to pay for an adequate lawyer to take on her case, but the government will not pay.

The firm said Sandiford, originally from Redcar, Teesside, had not been properly represented since her arrest at Bali airport last May.

Rosa Curling, from the firm's human rights team, said: "The UK government has repeatedly confirmed its opposition to the death penalty.

"It has a clear legal duty to ensure our client, who has no money to be able to pay for the basic essentials, let alone legal representation, receives appropriate assistance to be able to file an appeal against her death sentence.

"[The foreign secretary, William] Hague must not allow this to happen – he must immediately ensure Ms Sandiford, a British citizen, is provided with the opportunity to challenge her sentence and file an appeal."

The firm is seeking a judicial review of the government's decision. A hearing at the high court in London will be held before Thursday.

Harriet McCulloch, investigator at Reprieve, said: "Everyone knows that capital punishment means that those without the capital get the punishment.

"Lindsay's poverty means that she has ended up sentenced to death after a manifestly unfair trial."

The Foreign Office said the government does not fund legal representation for British nationals abroad, but Sandiford's case was being raised through diplomatic channels.

A spokesman said: "We strongly object to the death penalty and continue to provide consular assistance to Lindsay and her family during this difficult time.

"We have made repeated representations to the Indonesia authorities, and the foreign secretary raised Lindsay Sandiford's case with Dr RM Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian foreign minister, during the recent November state visit of the Indonesian president.

"We understand that, under Indonesian law, Lindsay has at least two further avenues of appeal through the courts as, well as an opportunity to apply for presidential clemency should these be unsuccessful."

The government did not provide legal representation for British nationals overseas but did assist them in "identifying potential legal representation", said the spokesman, adding: "We will continue to raise this case on diplomatic channels."